Read expert commentary on medical tourism in South Africa (and 187 other countries) along with 54 individual country metrics plus information about the healthcare system and insurance and a directory of organisations operating in the medical travel industry. Subscribe now for full access.
Facts & figures
Capital: Pretoria
Population: 58.56 million
Medical tourism
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Within this section, you will find published information on medical tourism numbers, our estimate of inbound and outbound medical tourism, and IMTJ news and external news that provide estimates of medical tourism activity in South Africa.
The IMTJ estimates for South Africa are based on the information that we gather and our view of the validity and credibility of this data. It is our view of what the real number of medical travellers is likely to be i.e. the number of patients who specifically travel for the primary purpose of healthcare. “No data available” means that there is insufficient information to be able to make any kind of realistic estimate.
Medical tourism commentary
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Facts and figures
General information
Capital:PretoriaSource: UN Data, 2019
Population:58.56 millionSource: UN Data, 2019
Main languages spoken:IsiZulu 23.8%, IsiXhosa 17.6%, Afrikaans 13.3%, Sepedi 9.4%, English 8.2%, Setswana 8.2%, Sesotho 7.9%, Xitsonga 4.4%, other 7.2%Source: Infoplease, 2020
Main religion:Christianity, Islam, indigenous beliefsSource: Infoplease, 2020
International dialling code:27
Internet domain:.za
Gross National income (GNI) per capita:12,630 USDSource: The World Bank, 2017-2020
Tourism data
International inbound tourists:Login to viewSource: The World Bank, 2016-2018
International outbound tourists:Login to viewSource: The World Bank, 2016-2018
Population profile
Population over 65 (% of total population):Login to viewSource: The World Bank, 2017-2019
Population ages 80 and above, female (% of female population):Login to viewSource: The World Bank, 2017-2019
Population ages 80 and above, male (% of male population):Login to viewSource: The World Bank, 2017-2019
Healthcare workforce
Physicians (per 1,000 people):Login to viewSource: The World Bank, 2014-2018
General medical practitioners:Login to viewSource: WHO Europe, 2010-2014
Specialist medical practitioners:Login to viewSource: WHO Europe, 2010-2014
Nurses and midwives (per 1,000 people):Login to viewSource: The World Bank, 2015-2018
Healthcare expendature
Current health expenditure per capita:Login to viewSource: The World Bank, 2014-2017
Healthcare expenditure as a % of GDP:Login to viewSource: UN Data, 2015-2017
Domestic general government health expenditure as a % of total government expenditure:Login to viewSource: UN Data, 2015-2017
Domestic general government health expenditure per capita:Login to viewSource: The World Bank, 2014-2017
Domestic private expenditure on health as a % of current expenditure on health:Login to viewSource: WHO, 2017
Healthcare provision
Health centres (per 100,000 people):Login to viewSource: WHO, 2013
District / rural hospitals (per 100,000 people):Login to viewSource: WHO, 2013
Provincial hospitals (per 100,000 people):Login to viewSource: WHO, 2013
Specialised hospitals (per 100,000 people):Login to viewSource: WHO, 2013
Total hospitals (per 100,000 people):Login to viewSource: WHO, 2013
No of hospital beds (per 1,000 people):Login to viewSource: The World Bank, 2012-2015
MRI scanners (per 1m people):Login to viewSource: OECD, 2015-2019
PET scanners (per 1m people):Login to viewSource: WHO Europe, 2011-2014
Healthcare activity
Coronary angioplasty procedures (per 100,000 people):Login to viewSource: OECD, 2017-2019
Hip replacement procedures (per 100,000 people):Login to viewSource: OECD, 2017
Knee replacement procedures (per 100,000 people):Login to viewSource: OECD, 2017
Cataract surgeries (per 100,000 people):Login to viewSource: Eurostat, 2018
Average length of stay in hospitals:Login to viewSource: OECD, 2015-2019
Health profile
Breast cancer: Female mortality rate (deaths per 100,000 people):Login to viewSource: WHO , 2016
Prostate cancer: Male mortality rate (deaths per 100,000 people):Login to viewSource: WHO , 2016
Ischemic heart disease: Male mortality rate (deaths per 100,000 people):Login to viewSource: WHO , 2016
Ischemic heart disease: Female mortality rate (deaths per 100,000 people):Login to viewSource: WHO , 2016
Cosmetic surgery
Total surgical cosmetic procedures:Login to viewSource: ISAPS, 2016-2018
Total cosmetic face and head procedures:Login to viewSource: ISAPS, 2016-2018
Total non-surgical cosmetic procedures:Login to viewSource: ISAPS, 2016-2018
Obesity surgery
Number of bariatric operations performed:Login to viewSource: IFSO, 2019
Healthcare system and insurance
Within this section, you will find details of how the healthcare system in South Africa is set up and operates and how state and privately funded health insurance work.
Healthcare system
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Health Insurance – State
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Health Insurance – Compulsory
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